One of Tottenham’s first team stars has been missing from pre-season training so far at Hotspur Way but there is a simple explanation for it
Eagle-eyed Tottenham supporters might have noticed one first team player not involved at the World Cup is yet to appear in pre-season footage or imagery.
Spurs’ players not involved in that tournament across the Atlantic returned to work at Hotspur Way on Friday for physical testing and then got to work on the grass from Monday onwards as head coach Roberto De Zerbi watched on. A large group of 25 Spurs players were back including £85million signing Mateus Fernandes, with his fellow £100million new arrival Sandro Tonali now having got his work permit after his move from Newcastle.
The other returning players included another new signing in Martin Dubravka as well as Archie Gray, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher, Mathys Tel, Richarlison, Destiny Udogie, Antonin Kinsky, Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Brandon Austin, Dane Scarlett, Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear, Jamie Donley, Manor Solomon, Kota Takai, Yang Min-hyeok and Ashley Phillips.
Also back in the gym were injured duo Dejan Kulusevski and Mohammed Kudus as well as Wilson Odobert, who will be out until the end of this year with his ACL injury.
However, one first team player missing from the returning group was Souza and football.london understands that’s because the young Brazilian has been ill in recent days.
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The left-back, who turned 20 last month and has been dubbed ‘the new Marcelo’ back home in Brazil, played four matches for Spurs last season after his £13million move from Santos in January.
He made two starts under caretaker boss Igor Tudor as a right winger in the 1-1 draw at Liverpool in March after being sacrificed as the left wing-back following Micky van de Ven’s first half red card against Crystal Palace in the previous Premier League game.
The Brazilian is likely to get a loan move this summer thanks to Andy Robertson’s arrival as a free agent, adding to the left-back department with Destiny Udogie, along with Djed Spence being able to play on the left.
When Souza signed in January, then Spurs head coach Thomas Frank said the club have high hopes for the young full-back.
“He is a talented, promising young full-back, who is forward-thinking and technically very good,” said the Dane. “I’m looking forward to working with him and helping developing that potential, as we believe we have bought one of the brightest left-back talents in the world, who can give us something now but also for the future.”
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